So you f***ed up, the session didn’t go as planned, the drummer passed out half way through the second song. At the time these may seem like disasters but like all things, with time they fade. In the face of any adversity the main thing is to hold true to your vision. You may have to work a little harder to convince your audience you’ve got your game back, but as long as you never lose faith in yourself, it will all work out.
As Wayne Dyer says “The wake cannot drive the boat.” What he means by this is that your past (the wake) cannot impact your present moment (the boat). The only way your past can have any bearing on your present is if you allow your mind to make decisions based on old events. Every moment is a re-birth, when you know better you do better.
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2 comments:
Tim,
I kicked off as a player in the 70's. Survival, in the working men's clubs of the north east, was simpler than anything that might have needed a plan, we either pleased the audience or they would talk and the resultant babble would signal the end of the gig. No re-booking, usually no payment. Luckily not a frequent scenario for me, I was good.. hang on.. still am!
What you have been elucidating has been part of the dialogue between myself and my son for a number of years now, we seem to agree. At my own cost I've believed in individuality, Louis, my boy, guitarist, writes tunes, works hard and is pretty level. He understands that he will need to find his audience. I've always chanted "just try and be yourself" to anyone, musician or otherwise, but it can be hard for people who are caught in the trap or have had years of pressure, parental, peer or whatever.
We've had a life so far full of change and with experience of more than average dynamism. He is 19 and because I left the commercial world of music when he was about to be, we've been more or less constant companions. After a year living in Prague we've rented a little flat in Exeter. Prague was a way to deal with a few conundrums I had. Julia, my wife, was dealing with her Dad's death and going through an early menopause. Louis, poor bugger had spent his teens in deepest, rural France and the last year there helping me clear a wood and build a wooden house. I felt the Golden City would demagnetize and recharge. It did. Louis became a bloke overnight, women everywhere, and the truly cosmopolitan and bohemian berk that only a teenager can be, bless him. Julia worked with an international rescue company (Thunderbirds more or less) and I worked on my chops (piano) and wrote, cooked and did housey things. Time well spent by all.
There was a quote on your web page that really made me think and decide to write. It alluded to misplaced suspicion.
I've accumulated bits and bobs of gear over the years that I've used to write at home, always having a studio of sorts to get ideas down. There has always been a "proper" studio available if I needed to to take anything further.. old friends.
One such mate has always been telling me to downsize.. work in the box as it were. So I have. Bought myself an imac and the boy a Mac book pro.. see! toys and glamour trap!. No I don't have much of anything and we are not wealthy by any means. I've always used a Mac since my atari and my eyesight had an falling out.
I offered the use of my desk, ok'ish project type, A&H GS3000 and a whatever else might be useful to a lad who has a little studio in Exeter. I used myspace to contact him and explained my lack of room and need at the moment.
Not a dicky bird! he read the letter and a little bump I gave him just in case, nothing.
Lou and I discussed this and decided he probably thought it was some scam, Nigerian prince?.
Now the honest bit. Did I offer the stuff to him because his studio looked middle class, twee and a bit anal and I was looking for a safe option? yes probably, so I deserve all I get! but still, no reply? even just to say **** off? I remember advice from wise old hacks along the lines of.. "Refuse nothing, only blows!" that one is a bit dubious in modern sexual parlance, and "Availability is your biggest asset". Never mind.
I was lucky to meet McCoy Tyner a while back and he said when being quizzed about a particular aspect of his style.. "It doesn't matter what scale etc. it is, it's all just about sound! but better if it's YOUR sound!"
Our paths may cross musically in the future, who knows.
Good luck to you and Dawn.
Steve.
Thanks Steve, great to know someone is out there, hope to meet you on the Devon scene - such as it is!
Cheers Tim
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